Apparatus to make decorations on prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membranes and corresponding plant for the production of said prefabricated water-proofing membranes

ABSTRACT

Apparatus to make decorations on a prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane, wherein the decorations are made by depositing solid particles, in the form of flakes, grains, sand or grit, suitable to adhere to at least one surface of said prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane. The apparatus comprises at least one transfer member provided with a support surface suitable to receive, support and transfer the solid particles toward the surface to be enhanced of the prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane. The support surface is provided with a plurality of cavities suitable to receive the solid particles. The cavities are made inside at least one surface portion of the support surface and the surface portion, essentially reproducing the shape and sizes of at least one of the decorations.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention concerns an apparatus to make decorations,patterns or designs on a prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mixmembrane, usable, for example, for covering roofs or external surfacesof dwellings, such as terraces, apartment blocks or industrial plants,but not only.

The present invention also concerns a plant for the production ofprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membranes comprising saidapparatus.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membranes are known, used forwater-proofing external surfaces of buildings such as roofs, terraces inapartment blocks, industrial warehouses, private residences, but notonly.

Plants for making bitumen-mix membranes are also known. They normallycomprise an application unit configured to apply on a support, alsocalled brace, a bituminous material or mixture, such as oxidizedbitumen, distilled bitumen or modified bitumen.

Such plants also comprise at least an apparatus to make a protective andenhancing finishing cover on at least one surface of the prefabricatedbitumen-mix membrane. The cover is usually made with solid particleswith a mineral base, such as slate, basalt, ferrite or suchlike in theform of flakes, granules, sand or grit, hereafter indicated genericallyby the term grains.

The solid particles also have the function of protecting at least thesurface of the bitumen-mix membrane exposed to atmospheric events, forexample rain, snow, ice or solar radiation.

Apparatuses are also known that, by depositing the solid particles,obtain enhancing decorations on the water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane.

These apparatuses usually comprise a distribution device that includesat least a hopper for containing the solid particles and a transfermember configured to transfer the solid particles in a metered mannerfrom the hopper to the membrane to be covered.

The transfer member, for example a rotary drum or a belt wound betweentwo cylinders and selectively translatable between the two cylinders, isprovided on an external surface with a plurality of cavities, each ofwhich having a size and shape substantially similar to those of thedecoration to be reproduced on the surface of the membrane to becovered.

The cavities are filled on each occasion with the solid particles in thehopper.

The activation of the transfer member determines the transfer andrelease onto the prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane ofthe solid particles to obtain the desired decorations on the membrane.

Given the particular configuration of the cavities, which substantiallyreproduce the same shape and size of the decoration to be obtained,these apparatuses do not allow to release the solid particles onto themembrane in a desired and controlled manner. In fact, during therotation of the transfer member, the particles are not suitably held bythe cavities and are unloaded together, as soon as the cavity isdisposed in a vertical or sub-vertical position.

This entails both a blurring of the decoration with respect to the idealcontour consisting of the template, and also a deposit of a non-uniformlayer of solid particles on the surface of the bituminous membrane,which can lead to a dis-homogeneous esthetic effect, and at some pointsreduces the efficacy of the covering given by the solid particlesagainst atmospheric events.

A transfer member is also known from documents U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,369and US-A-2002/0160108, provided with a support surface on which aplurality of cavities are made. Each cavity is suitable to receive thesolid particles that are delivered by feed devices.

The transfer member can be a rotary drum, as in the case described inU.S. Pat. No. 5,814,369, or a conveyor belt wound between two cylindersas described in US-A-2002/0160108.

To prevent an uncontrolled delivery of the solid particles contained inthe cavities, U.S. Pat. No. 5,814,369 describes a holding device locatedin contact with part of the support surface of the rotary drum andwhich, for at least the part of the support surface of the transfermember located vertical or sub-vertical during use, maintains the solidparticles in the cavities of the transfer member.

The holding device comprises a flexible belt wound around a plurality ofreturn rolls that define at least a segment of the flexible belt thatpositions itself adherent to the external surface of the rotary drum.

The presence of a flexible belt in contact with the support surface isnot able to ensure that only the solid particles contained in thecavities are transferred to the surface of the bituminous membrane. Inthis solution, in fact, possible solid particles that are interposedbetween the conveyor belt and the support surface of the transfer memberand which are not contained in the cavities are also transferred to themembrane to be enhanced. This results in decorations that are not veryprecise or defined.

The solid particles that are interposed between the flexible belt andthe support surface increase the wear to which the transfer member issubjected during use, due to the abrasive action of the solid particles.This reduces the working life of the transfer member and/or the flexiblebelt, and requires frequent maintenance operations and replacements ofthe components.

One purpose of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus to makedecorations on prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membranes thatallows a better precision in defining decorations and that at the sametime allows to obtain a greater uniformity of the covering layerobtained using solid particles.

Another purpose of the present invention is to make an apparatus to makedecorations that is simple and economical.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus tomake decorations that increases the working life of its components andreduces the maintenance operations on them.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain a plant for theproduction of prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membranes with apleasant appearance and provided with precious decorations thatprecisely fill the cavities and define the contours.

Another purpose of the present invention is to obtain an apparatus tomake decorations on prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membranesthat is simple, economical and reliable.

The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention toovercome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain theseand other purposes and advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independentclaims, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of theinvention or variants to the main inventive idea.

In accordance with the above purposes, the present invention concerns anapparatus to make decorations on a prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane.

The decorations are made by depositing solid particles, in the form offlakes, grains, sand or grit, that adhere to a surface of theprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane.

The apparatus comprises at least one transfer member provided with asupport surface suitable to receive, support and transfer solidparticles toward the surface to be enhanced of the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane.

In accordance with a characteristic feature of the present invention,the support surface is provided with a plurality of cavities suitable toreceive the solid particles, each cavity defining an area of reducedsize with respect to the surface portion on which the decoration ismade. The cavities are made inside at least one surface portion of thesupport surface and the surface portion essentially reproduces the shapeand sizes of at least one of the decorations.

The use of cavities of reduced size with respect to the surface portionon which the decoration is made allows to control precisely theunloading of the solid particles which are intended to cover adeterminate zone of the decoration, since each cavity exerts a holdingaction on the solid particles contained therein until the transfermember is in the delivery condition. This prevents unwanted dispersal ofsolid particles outside the pre-established contours of the decorations,and makes the solid particles deposited on the decoration uniform.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, theapparatus comprises an occlusion roller disposed in contact with thesupport surface and configured to hold the solid particles inside therespective cavities before they are deposited.

The use of an occlusion roller, compared with conventional solutions,for example using a belt wound around return rolls, allows to simplifythe production complexity of the apparatus to make decorations, reducingits overall cost.

Moreover, compared with conventional solutions, this solution allows toreduce maintenance interventions on the components of the apparatus aswell as to reduce wear at least on the transfer member.

Here and hereafter in the description by the term occlusion roller wemean any deformable body, with an oblong development, and configured toadapt to at least part of the support surface of the transfer memberonce it is pressed against the latter. In particular, the occlusionroller can be defined as a block with a circular, rectangular, polygonalor mixed linear-curved cross section, and positioned with its lengthwisedevelopment substantially parallel to the portion of the surface supportof the transfer member on which the occlusion roller rests.

The occlusion roller can have a lengthwise development substantiallyequal to the width of the support surface affected by the cavities.

In accordance with possible variant forms of embodiment, severalocclusion rollers can be provided for each transfer member, locatedaligned with respect to each other in a direction parallel to thelongitudinal development of the transfer member.

In possible forms of embodiment, the transfer member comprises at leasta drum, the circumferential surface of which defines the support surfaceon which the cavities are made.

The present invention also concerns a plant for the production of aprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane, comprising:

-   -   a unit for applying a bituminous material on a support to        produce a prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane;    -   at least one apparatus for making decorations on the        prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane as described        above and located downstream of the bituminous material        application unit described above.

In possible implementations, the plant according to the presentinvention comprises a plurality of apparatuses for making decorations,for example to obtain decorations by means of different solid particlesdelivered by the different apparatuses.

The present invention also concerns a method for making decorations on aprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane, which provides todeposit solid particles in the form of flakes, grains, sand or grit, tomake them adhere to at least one surface of the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane.

In accordance with the present invention, the method provides to deliverthe solid particles on a support surface of a transfer member,positioning them in a plurality of cavities made on at least one portionof the support surface and suitable to receive the solid particles.

The method also provides to transfer the solid particles from thecavities toward the surface to be enhanced of the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane by actuating the transfer member.

According to one aspect of the method, during the actuation of thetransfer member it provides to hold the solid particles inside thecavities, before they are deposited, by means of an occlusion rollerpositioned in contact with the support surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other characteristics of the present invention will becomeapparent from the following description of some forms of embodiment,given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attacheddrawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of part of a plant for the production ofprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membranes comprising anapparatus to make decorations in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows forms of embodiment of a part of an apparatus in accordancewith the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic representation of an apparatus in accordance withforms of embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4a is a section view of a detail of a component of the apparatus inFIG. 3 in accordance with forms of embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4b is a section view of a variant of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4c is a section view of another variant of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 4d is a section view of another variant of FIG. 4 a;

FIG. 5 is a representation of a possible water-proofing bitumen-mixmembrane obtained with an apparatus according to the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of a possible component of anapparatus in accordance with a variant form of embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of a detail of an apparatus inaccordance with some forms of embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 8 shows a variant of FIG. 7.

To facilitate comprehension, the same reference numbers have been used,where possible, to identify identical common elements in the drawings.It is understood that elements and characteristics of one form ofembodiment can conveniently be incorporated into other forms ofembodiment without further clarifications.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF FORMS OF EMBODIMENT

We shall now refer in detail to the various forms of embodiment of thepresent invention, of which one or more examples are shown in theattached drawing. Each example is supplied by way of illustration of theinvention and shall not be understood as a limitation thereof. Forexample, the characteristics shown or described insomuch as they arepart of one form of embodiment can be adopted on, or in associationwith, other forms of embodiment to produce another form of embodiment.It is understood that the present invention shall include all suchmodifications and variants.

FIG. 1 is used to describe forms of embodiment of parts of a plant 30comprising at least one apparatus 10, in this case three apparatuses 10,for making decorations 20 on a prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mixmembrane 12.

The prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12 comprises atleast a support 22, also known as brace, to which a bituminous materialis associated.

The support 22 can be in the form of a strip or gauze, with the functionof reinforcing the prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

The support 22 can be made of a textile material or an artificialmaterial, such as glass fiber, aramid fiber or polyester based fiber.

In some forms of embodiment, the bituminous material 35 can be chosenfor example from the group comprising oxidized bitumen, distilledbitumen, or modified bitumen.

To this purpose the plant 30 can comprise an application unit 32configured to apply or impregnate the support 22 with the bituminousmaterial 35 contained for example in a containing tank 33, and to definethe prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

Downstream of the application unit 32 the at least one apparatus 10 tomake the decorations 20 is located.

The decorations 20 are made by depositing solid particles 13, in theform of flakes, grains, sand or grit, which adhere to a surface of theprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

The solid particles 13 are typically mineral based material, such asflakes of slate, granules of basalt, ferrite or suchlike. The solidparticles 13 act as a cover for the prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane 12 and the particular disposition and distributionon the surface allows to confer thereon an enhancing appearance.

The solid particles 13 are made to adhere to the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12 when the bituminous material 35is still in a liquid/viscous condition. When the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12 is completely cooled, and hencethe bituminous material 35 is completely solidified, the solid particles13 remain adhering to the prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mixmembrane 12.

In forms of embodiment described using FIGS. 2 and 3, the apparatus 10comprises at least one transfer member 11 configured to receive, supportand suitably transfer the solid particles 13 from a feed device 16 tothe surface to be enhanced of the prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane 12. In particular, the transfer member 11 isconfigured to deposit the solid particles 13 in a metered manner and todefine the decorations 20 on the surface to be enhanced of theprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12. The transfermember 11 is provided with a support surface 19 on which the solidparticles 13 are disposed and supported before they are deposited.

In at least one surface portion 21, the support surface 19 is providedwith a plurality of cavities 18. The surface portion 21 substantiallyreproduces the shape and size of at least one of the decorations 20 thatare to be obtained on the surface of the prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane 12.

Each of the cavities 18 of one of the surface portions 21 of the supportsurface 19 of the transfer member 11 is suitable to contain adeterminate quantity of solid particles 13 that can be unloaded onto theprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12 by suitably drivinga member for holding the solid particles, described hereafter, at leastuntil a determinate cavity 18 is disposed in an unloading position. Thisprevents the solid particles 13 from being unloaded in a non-controlledand non-uniform manner.

The cavities 18 are smaller than the surface portion 21 of the supportsurface 19 and allow to control the metering of a suitable quantity ofsolid particles 13.

In forms of embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c, 4d, each cavity 18 can have a section shape chosen from triangular (FIG.4a ), rectangular (FIG. 4b ), or a combination thereof (FIGS. 4c, 4d ).For example, the cavities 18 can have a conical shape, or pyramidal,cylindrical, parallelepiped or partly conical and partly cylindrical,possibly in relation to different types of solid particles 13 to bedelivered.

The disposition of the cavities 18 inside the surface portion 21 canallow to obtain different effects on the decoration 20.

In forms of embodiment described with reference to FIG. 3, the cavities18 can be disposed in a grid-like configuration, equidistant withrespect to each other, filling the surface portion 21 almost uniformly.

A linear disposition of the cavities 18, shown for example in FIG. 8,allows to obtain a decoration 20 with a blurred effect.

A staggered disposition of the cavities 18 instead allows to obtain amore marked and covering effect.

In some forms of embodiment, the transfer member 11 comprises at least adrum 14, the circumferential surface of which defines the supportsurface 19 on which the cavities 18 are made.

The drum 14 can be made to rotate by suitable drive means, not shown,around an axis of rotation X that can coincide with the axis ofdevelopment of the drum 14.

In particular, when the cavities 18 of the drum 14 face upward, theyreceive the solid particles 13 from the feed device 16 and, rotatingaround the axis of rotation X in the direction of rotation, indicated byarrow R, unload the solid particles 13 onto the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

In forms of embodiment described using FIG. 3, the feed device 16 cancomprise a hopper 17 provided with an unloading aperture 27 facingtoward the support surface 19 and through which the solid particles 13are unloaded to fill the cavities 18 of the support surface 19.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the unloading aperture 27 canbe disposed in direct contact with the support surface 19 so as to limitunwanted losses of solid particles 13.

According to possible forms of embodiment, the unloading aperture 27 canbe provided with a doctor suitable to contact the support surface 19 ofthe transfer member 11 to clean it of the solid particles 13 and toleave them only inside the cavities 18.

According to possible formulations of the invention (FIG. 3), theunloading aperture 27 is disposed off center with respect to a plane α,perpendicular to the plane defined by the prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane 12 and on which the axis of rotation X of the drum14 lies.

In particular, the unloading aperture 27 can be disposed off center fromthe side of the drum 14 from which the solid particles 13 are depositedon the prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

This positioning of the hopper 17 therefore prevents the solid particles13 from falling on the opposite side of the drum 14 with respect to theside on which the solid particles 13 are deposited on the drum 14. Thiswould create defects on the design of the prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane 12.

The apparatus 10 can comprise, as we said, a holding device 15, disposedin contact with the support surface 19 and configured to hold the solidparticles 13 inside the cavities 18 of the transfer member 11 and toremove the solid particles 13 that are on the support surface 19 of thetransfer member 11 outside said cavities 18.

In the form of embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the holding device 15comprises an occlusion roller 25 that has at least one operatingposition in which it is positioned in contact with the drum 14 on theside on which the solid particles 13 are deposited on the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

The occlusion roller 25 can be made of an elastically deformablematerial able to adapt to the shape of at least part of the supportsurface 19, following its development.

Merely by way of example, it is provided that the occlusion roller 25 ismade of a material chosen from a group comprising sponge, foam rubber orexpanded polymer materials.

The occlusion roller 25 has a substantially cylindrical conformationwith a radius R. During use, the occlusion roller 25 is installed in afixed position with respect to the transfer member 11, and at a distancefrom the support surface 19 that is less than said radius R. Thiscondition determines a deformation of the surface portion of theocclusion roller 25 in contact with the support surface 19, so that theocclusion roller 25 affects a surface portion of the support surface 19and holds the solid particles 13 inside the cavities 18.

The elastically deformable material allows in particular to compress thesolid particles 13 inside the cavities 18 also during the rotation ofthe drum 14, performing an effective holding action.

The occlusion roller 25 thus made allows both to clean the supportsurface 19 and also to bring the solid particles 13 inserted in thecavities 18 flush with the external edge thereof. Furthermore, thepresence of an occlusion roller 25 prevents solid particles 13 fromstaying and remaining between the support surface 19 and the occlusionroller 25, causing wear on the latter.

The occlusion roller 25 is located on the unloading side where the solidparticles 13 are unloaded, and in contact with at least one portion ofthe support surface 19 that is located substantially vertical orsub-vertical

During use, the occlusion roller 25 holds the solid particles 13 presentin each cavity 18 until the moment suitable for depositing said solidparticles 13 on the prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane12, that is, when each cavity or group of cavities 18 is near theprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

Furthermore, it is preferable to keep the distance between the drum 14and the prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12 small, soas to effectively control the stream of solid particles 13.

In forms of embodiment described using FIG. 6, the transfer member 11comprises a belt 31 and at least two rolls 34 a, 34 b, on which the belt31 is mounted.

The belt 31 can be for example closed on itself and wound around therolls 34 a and 34 b as shown in FIG. 6.

The rolls 34 a, 34 b can be provided with drive means suitable to makethem rotate, consequently moving the belt 31. The belt 31 defines, witha surface located externally to the rolls 34 a, 34 b, the supportsurface 19.

With a belt 31 it is possible to reproduce decorations 20 withparticular surface extensions.

According to some forms of embodiment described with reference to FIG.1, the plant 30 can comprise a plurality of apparatuses 10, each ofwhich is suitable to deposit solid particles 13 in a controlled manner,in a predetermined pattern.

Using a plurality of apparatuses 10 can allow, for example, to make aplurality of different decorations 20, or one or more polychromedecorations.

In this latter case, in fact, each apparatus 10 can release a differenttype of solid particles 13, for example with different granulometric orchromatic characteristics and in a predetermined pattern.

Each transfer member 11 can be configured to reproduce differentdecorations 20, thanks to different surface portions 21 made on thesupport surfaces 19 of each transfer member 11.

FIG. 5 shows decorations, in this case first decorations 20 a, seconddecorations 20 b and third decorations 20 c, each made by a respectiveapparatus 10.

In particular, by suitably combining decorations 20 a, 20 b, and 20 c itis possible to enhance in a desired manner the surface of aprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12 to reproduce, forexample (FIG. 5), a tile roof with a three-dimensional perception of thetiles.

The plant 30 can comprise, for example, rollers 24 configured andpositioned to define a desired travel of the support 22 or theprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12.

In possible implementations, the rollers 24 can be configured toactively contribute to the movement of the support 22/prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane 12 through the plant 30.

In other forms of embodiment, the rollers 24 can be configured only forthe tautening and passage of the support 22/prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane 12.

It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made tothe apparatus to make decorations on a prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane as described heretofore, without departing from thefield and scope of the present invention.

It is also clear that, although the present invention has been describedwith reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the artshall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms ofapparatus to make decorations on a prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane, having the characteristics as set forth in theclaims and hence all coming within the field of protection definedthereby.

The invention claimed is:
 1. An apparatus to make decorations on aprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane, said decorationsbeing made by depositing solid particles, in the form of flakes, grains,sand or grit, suitable to adhere to at least one surface of saidprefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane, said apparatuscomprising at least one transfer member provided with a support surfacesuitable to receive, support and transfer said solid particles towardthe surface to be enhanced of said prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane, said solid particles being disposed and supportedon said surface to be enhanced, said support surface being provided witha plurality of cavities suitable to receive said solid particles, saidcavities being made inside at least one surface portion of said supportsurface and said surface portion essentially reproducing the shape andsizes of at least one of said decorations, wherein said apparatusfurther comprises an occlusion roller disposed in direct contact with aportion of said support surface located vertical or sub-vertical, andsaid occlusion roller being configured to hold said solid particlesinside said cavities before said solid particles are deposited.
 2. Theapparatus as in claim 1, wherein said occlusion roller has at least oneoperating position in direct contact with said support surface on theside where the solid particles are deposited on the prefabricatedwater-proofing bitumen-mix membrane.
 3. The apparatus as in claim 1,wherein said occlusion roller is made of an elastically deformablematerial able to adapt to the shape of at least part of the supportsurface.
 4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said transfer membercomprises at least a drum, the circumferential surface of which definessaid support surface in which said cavities are made, wherein saidocclusion roller has at least one operating position located in directcontact against part of the support surface of said drum.
 5. Theapparatus as in claim 4, wherein said feed device comprises a hopperprovided with an unloading aperture positioned off center, on the sidewhere the solid particles are deposited, with respect to a plane onwhich the axis of rotation of said drum lies and which is locatedperpendicular to the plane defined by said prefabricated water-proofingbitumen-mix membrane.
 6. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprisinga feed device configured to dispose said solid particles on said supportsurface.
 7. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein each of said cavitieshas a section shape chosen from triangular, rectangular or a combinationof these shapes.
 8. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said transfermember comprises a belt and at least two rolls on which said belt ismounted, said belt defining with its surface, external during use, thesupport surface.
 9. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein the occlusionroller has a fixed position with respect to the transfer member.
 10. Aplant to make a prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane,comprising: an application unit to apply a bituminous material on asupport in order to make a prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mixmembrane; at least an apparatus as in claim 1, to make decorations onsaid prefabricated water-proofing bitumen-mix membrane, said apparatusbeing disposed downstream of said application unit.